Spline connection

ABSTRACT

A motor vehicle  10  includes a hydromechanical powersplit transmission  11  having a hydraulic pump motor unit drive shaft  44  and a gear  76 . The shaft  44  and gear  76  are drivingly connected together with a spline connection  160 . The spline connection  160  includes an internal spline connector  161  and an external spline connector  162 . Each spline connector  161, 162  includes a spline portion  166, 174  and a generally smooth portion  168, 175  adjacent its spline portion. During assembly, generally smooth portion  168  of the internal spline connector  160  engages and guides spline portion  174  of the external spline connector  162  to longitudinally and circumferentially align the spline portions  174  and  166 . After assembly, the spline portions  166, 174  and the generally smooth portions  168  and  175  are radially aligned with and engage one another to form a rigid driving connection.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present patent application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/641,467 filed May 2, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The present patent application also cross references related patent applications filed of even date herewith by the assignee of the present patent application and titled “Hydromechanical Transmission and Assemblies,” “Hydromechanical Transmission With Double Sump Gear Unit Housing,” “Method of Assembly for Hydromechanical Transmission,” “Splash Gear Lubrication System,” and “Park Pawl With Actuator.”

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to a hydromechanical transmission, and more specifically to a hydromechanical powersplit transmission for a hydraulic hybrid vehicle, and to components and assemblies and methods that may be used with such transmissions and elsewhere.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hydromechanical transmissions, including hydromechanical powersplit transmissions, are used in hydraulic hybrid vehicles. Such vehicles may include a vehicle prime mover such as an internal combustion engine, at least one hydraulic pump motor unit, a gear set such as a planetary gear set, and an output shaft connecting the planetary gear set to a drive shaft of the vehicle. The internal combustion engine and the hydraulic pump motor unit are connected to the gear set, and the gear set splits power from the internal combustion engine and from the hydraulic pump motor unit in a motoring mode to rotate the drive shaft and propel the vehicle. The pump motor unit may also be used in a pumping mode to capture energy under certain conditions such as braking the vehicle, and the captured energy may be stored in an energy storage device such as a hydraulic accumulator to power the hydraulic pump motor unit in the motoring mode.

Various prior art configurations for hydromechanical powersplit vehicle transmissions may be used in off-highway vehicle applications such as agricultural tractors and wheel loaders or in on-highway applications such as delivery trucks. The ability of the powersplit transmission to provide infinitely variable speed allows the engine to run at its optimum efficiency conditions, while transmission of most power through the mechanical power path rather than through the hydraulic power path may result in relatively high transmission efficiency when hydraulic power is limited or not being used. Smooth and seamless control with uninterrupted transfer of torque from the prime mover and/or the hydraulic pump motor unit to the vehicle drive shaft may result in good performance when compared to manual and automatic transmissions having discrete gear ratios, while elimination of a hydrodynamic torque converter may help achieve efficiency when compared to automatic transmissions.

In transmissions of this type, and in hydromechanical components and assemblies and methods for use in such transmissions and elsewhere, technical problems include difficulties with system complexity, efficiency, size, weight, flexibility, lubrication of components, sump oil fill levels and heat build-up, assembly, repair, transmission of forces and torque in relatively large weight vehicles, and parking lock requirements. More specifically, these technical problems include alignment with other components of a vehicle such as the prime mover engine and the differential, ease of assembly, ease of installation in a vehicle and removal from the vehicle, space availability of the vehicle, space requirements of the transmission and within the transmission, weight of the transmission, smooth operation, transmission control, ease of disassembly and repair, and flexibility to change for use in a variety of different vehicles and different applications. Still more specifically, these technical problems include difficulty assembling and attaching and integrating the hydraulic components, including the hydraulic pump motor units and the controls and drive shafts for the hydraulic pump motor units and the hydraulic flow passages and ports for the hydraulic pump motor units, with the planetary gear set, including the drive gears and planetary gear set components, and assembling those components to the prime mover and differential of the vehicle. Further technical problems include lubrication of gear components, including size and complexity and efficiency of lubrication fluid pumps, and assembly and alignment of spline connections. Further technical problems include complexity of, and forces and stresses imposed on, parking lock mechanisms in relatively large weight vehicles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses certain of the aforementioned technical problems and provides a hydromechanical vehicle transmission and assemblies for use in such transmissions, including spline connection assemblies, and elsewhere. The transmission and assemblies according to the present invention may be used in a motor vehicle in place of a conventional manual or automatic transmission, connected directly to a conventional vehicle prime mover engine drive shaft and differential drive shaft, and situated between typical vehicle frame rails, while providing a configuration that is modular, compact, and capable of kinetic brake energy recovery, with good efficiency.

More specifically, the invention provides a spline connection that includes an internal spline connector and an external spline connector. Each of the spline connectors has a spline portion, and at least one of the spline connectors has a substantially smooth centering portion longitudinally substantially adjacent its spline portion. The spline connectors have a first partially assembled configuration in which the spline portion of one of the spline connectors is radially aligned with the smooth centering portion of the other spline connector for longitudinal and rotational sliding contact. The spline connectors have a second partially assembled configuration in which the spline portions of each of the spline connectors are at least partially radially aligned with one another.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the spline connectors have a fully assembled configuration in which the entire longitudinal extend of the spline portion of the one of the spline connectors may be radially aligned with at least a portion of the longitudinal extent of the spline portion of the other spline connector. Each of the spline connectors may have a substantially smooth generally cylindrical centering portion adjacent its spline portion. The centering portions are only partially radially aligned and the spline portions are only partially radially aligned when the spline connection is in its second partially assembled configuration.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the one spline connector may be the internal spline connector. The substantially smooth centering portion of the internal spline connector may guide the spline portion of the external spline connector into circumferential and longitudinal alignment with the spline portion of the internal spline connection as the spline connectors are displaced from a disassembled configuration to the first partially assembled configuration. The internal spline connector may have a longitudinal extent, and the spline portion of the internal spline connector may have a longitudinal extent of at least about 30%, and preferably 50% to 80%, of the longitudinal extent of the internal spline connector. The internal spline connector may be on a bore in a gear, the external spline connector may be on a shaft, and the gear and the shaft may be in a sump in a hydromechanical transmission in a vehicle.

The invention further provides the combinations set out in the accompanying claims. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, and these and other features of the invention are more fully described and particularly pointed out in the description and claims set out below. The following description and claims and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, and these embodiments indicate but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of this invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a wheeled land vehicle that includes a hydromechanical powersplit transmission according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a more detailed enlarged view of a portion of the schematic diagram illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the hydromechanical powersplit transmission illustrated schematically in FIG. 1, as viewed from the front driver side of the vehicle in which the transmission is installed;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the transmission illustrated in FIG. 1, similar to FIG. 3 but having a hydraulic unit housing removed from a central connecting plate;

FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the transmission illustrated in FIG. 1, as viewed from the rear driver side of the vehicle in which the transmission is installed, but having a planetary gear unit housing removed from the central connecting plate and having the planetary gear unit gears illustrated;

FIG. 6 is a rear or output end view of the transmission illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along plane 7-7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along plane 8-8 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along plane 9-9 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional side elevation view of the primary pump motor drive shaft and its associated drive gear for the transmission illustrated in FIG. 1, illustrating a spline connection according to the present invention in a fully assembled configuration;

FIG. 10 a is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 10, illustrating the spline connection in a first partially assembled configuration;

FIG. 10 b is a view similar to FIG. 10 a, illustrating the spline connection in a second partially assembled configuration;

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the primary pump motor unit drive gear illustrated in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of the primary pump motor unit drive shaft illustrated in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the primary pump motor unit drive shaft and its associated drive gear illustrated in FIG. 10, showing these components before they are assembled together;

FIG. 14 is another perspective view of the primary pump motor unit drive shaft and its associated drive gear illustrated in FIG. 10, showing these components in a fully assembled configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, FIGS. 1-14 illustrate an object 10 having a compact hydromechanical powersplit transmission 11 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and a method of assembly 140 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Headings are provided in the description below to assist the reader. However, descriptions under all headings relate to the descriptions under each individual heading, so that the complete description below is to be used to understand the description under each individual heading.

Overall Structure and Operation

The object 10 can be any object that uses a transmission for transmitting energy or converting energy to rotational movement. In the preferred embodiment described below, the object 10 is a wheeled land vehicle such as an on-highway truck. The vehicle 10 includes a prime mover 13, which in the preferred embodiment is a conventional internal combustion engine such as a gasoline or diesel or natural gas engine, and an engine drive shaft 14. The vehicle 10 further includes drive wheels 15, a differential 16, and a differential drive shaft 17. The vehicle 10 also includes frame rails 18, which are longitudinally extending beams, which may be steel or other suitable structural material, to which the body (not shown), prime mover 13, drive shaft 14, vehicle suspension components (not shown), differential 16 and other components of the vehicle 10 are mounted in a conventional well know manner.

As best shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 7, the hydromechanical powersplit transmission 11 has a longitudinal axis 22. The transmission 11 includes a hydraulic unit 23, a gear unit or planetary gear unit 24 that is integral with the hydraulic unit 23, and a connecting plate 25 disposed intermediate the hydraulic unit 23 and the gear unit 24. As used herein, the term integral means two or more functionally different cooperating devices that are assembled without externally exposed fluid or mechanical connections and used as a whole such that each device is an essential part to complete the other. The hydraulic unit 23 includes a hydraulic unit housing 26 having a vehicle prime mover input end 27 and an output end 28. The gear unit 24 includes a gear unit housing or planetary gear unit housing 29 having an input end 30 and an output end 31. The housings 26 and 29 include exterior surfaces 32 and 33 and interior surfaces 34 and 35, respectively. Interior surfaces 34 and 35 cooperate with connecting plate 25 to define chambers 36 and 37, respectively, that are sealed from one another and from the exterior surfaces 32 and 33. The chambers 36 and 37 are in longitudinally aligned relationship to one another along longitudinal axis 22. Various low pressure hydraulic connections through the chamber 36 are illustrated schematically in FIG. 1 with solid lines. It should be understood that these illustrated solid lines are not separate hydraulic conduits, but rather schematically illustrate hydraulic connections that occur between various components through the low pressure hydraulic fluid within chamber 36.

The hydraulic unit housing 26 includes a longitudinally extending prime mover input shaft or mechanical drive shaft 41 connected to engine drive shaft 14 through a suitable torsional vibration dampening coupling 14 a. Input shaft 41 (FIGS. 1 and 7) extends through an input shaft opening 41 a at the input end 27, longitudinally into and through the hydraulic unit housing interior chamber 36. The input shaft 41 is rotatably connected to the prime mover 13, so that the prime mover 13 drives the input shaft 41 and causes the input shaft 41 to rotate when the prime mover 13 is running. The term rotatably connected means that components rotate together or are drivingly connected. A primary hydraulic pump motor unit 42 and a secondary hydraulic pump motor unit 43 (FIGS. 1, 8 and 9) are disposed within the chamber 36 in laterally offset spaced relation to the input shaft 41 and in circumferentially spaced relation to one another. This laterally offset relationship of the units 42 and 43 to the input shaft 41, as further described below, allows the input shaft 41 to extend longitudinally through the hydraulic unit housing interior chamber 36 and into connecting plate 25 without interruption. Further, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 8, the pump motor units 42 and 43 are longitudinally offset from one another, with the pump motor unit 43 including its barrel and pistons described below being closer to the connecting plate 25 and gear unit 24 than the pump motor unit 42, to reduce the lateral dimension of the transmission 11. The units 42 and 43 in the preferred embodiment are identical and are preferably bent axis, variable displacement, axial piston type pump motor units of the type disclosed in World Intellectual Property Organization publication number WO 2012/016240 A2, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Alternatively, the size, displacement or type of the pump motor units 42 and 43 may be different from one another and/or may be different from that illustrated in the preferred embodiment. For example, primary pump motor unit 42 may be a smaller displacement unit than secondary unit 43. For brevity, the detailed structure and operation of the pump motor units 42 and 43 as disclosed in the referenced publication are not repeated in detail herein. Primary pump motor unit 42 includes a barrel 42 a and pistons 42 b, and secondary pump motor unit 43 includes a barrel 43 a and pistons 43 b. The pump motor units 42 and 43 each operate in a pumping mode or in a motoring mode during the operation of the transmission 11, as further described below. The primary pump motor unit 42 is drivingly connected to primary pump motor unit drive shaft 44 (FIGS. 1 and 8), and the secondary pump motor unit 43 is drivingly connected to secondary pump motor unit drive shaft 45 (FIGS. 1 and 9). The primary shaft 44 includes an integral annular head portion having sockets 44 a for its associated pistons 42 a, and the pistons 42 a and associated barrel 42 b provide a rotating group for the primary unit 42. The secondary shaft 45 includes an integral annular head portion having sockets 45 a for its associated pistons 43 a, and the pistons 43 a and associated barrel 42 b provide a rotating group for the secondary unit 43. During the pumping mode, the units 42 and/or 43 are driven by primary pump motor unit drive shaft 44 and secondary pump motor unit drive shaft 45, respectively, to pump hydraulic fluid under pressure into a high pressure accumulator 46 (FIG. 1) through a hydraulic line 47 to store energy. During the motoring mode, high pressure hydraulic fluid is supplied to the units 42 and/or 43 from high pressure accumulator 46 through hydraulic line 47 to rotate the shafts 44 and 45 to convert stored energy from accumulator 46 to rotational movement. The primary and secondary pump motor unit drive shafts 44 and 45 are also disposed in radially offset relation to the prime mover input shaft 41 and in circumferentially and longitudinally spaced relation relative to one another. The high pressure accumulator 46 may be mounted remotely to the vehicle frame rails 18, or alternatively may be mounted directly to the transmission 11.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged and more detailed schematic illustration of the portion of FIG. 1 illustrated by the dotted line box that surrounds the pump motor units 42 and 43 in FIG. 1. As illustrated schematically in FIG. 2 and as shown and described in detail in the above referenced publication, the displacement of primary pump motor unit 42 is controlled by a displacement control mechanism including setting or control pistons 48 and 49 (also see FIG. 24). Similarly, the displacement of secondary pump motor unit 43 is controlled by setting or control pistons 50 and 51 (also see FIG. 24). The primary pump motor unit control pistons 48 and 49 are set or controlled by electrohydraulic proportional control valve 52, and the secondary pump motor unit control pistons 48 and 49 are set or controlled by electrohydraulic proportional control valve 53. An isolation valve 54 is arranged to block or open fluid communication between primary pump motor unit 42 high pressure outlet 91 and a high pressure isolation valve port 56 connected to hydraulic line 47 leading to high pressure accumulator 46. An isolation valve 55 is arranged to block or open fluid communication between secondary pump motor unit 43 and high pressure isolation valve port 56. The isolation valves 54 and 55 are closed or open in response to pilot signals from electrically operated isolation pilot signal valves 54 a and 55 a, respectively, and the valves 54 and 55 are disposed in a single housing 57 (FIG. 10) that includes the high pressure fluid port 56 connected to high pressure line 47 leading to high pressure accumulator 46. The isolation valve housing 57 further includes passages 56 a connecting the isolation valve high pressure port 56 with each of the isolation valves. As shown in FIG. 1, a low pressure reservoir 58 is connected to pump motor units 42 and 43 through low pressure hydraulic line 59 and chamber 36. A filtration and cooling pump 60 (also see FIG. 4) is driven by input shaft 41 and circulates hydraulic fluid from low pressure line 59 and chamber 36 through connections 32 a and 32 b to and from a hydraulic fluid filter (not shown) and a heat exchanger (not shown). Alternatively, pump 60 may be driven in any other suitable manner such as, for example, by a suitable gear set.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7, a coupling 61 in the connecting plate 25 couples the prime mover input shaft 41 to a transfer shaft 62, so that the input shaft 41 and transfer shaft 62 rotate together as a unit. Alternatively, coupling 61 may be in any other suitable location such as, for example, outside of and on either side of the connecting plate 25. Coupling 25 is integral to the transfer shaft 62 in the preferred embodiment but may alternatively be integral to the shaft 41 or a separate component. The transfer shaft 62 extends longitudinally from connecting plate 25 into the planetary gear housing interior chamber 37, so that the transfer shaft 62 may be considered a part of and/or an extension of input shaft 41. The right end of the transfer shaft 62 is rotatably journaled or supported in a bearing 62 a in a blind bore in the left end of a planetary gear unit output drive shaft 63 at the output end 31 of the planetary gear unit housing 29, so that the transfer shaft 62 is not drivingly coupled to the output drive shaft 63 but instead rotates relative to the output drive shaft 63. The output drive shaft 63 extends from the planetary gear unit housing interior chamber 37 longitudinally through an output drive shaft opening 63 a in gear unit housing 29 and is connected to the differential drive shaft 17 by a coupling 64.

As illustrated schematically in FIG. 1 and described in more detail below, the gear unit or planetary gear unit 24 includes gear unit components 71 disposed within the gear unit housing interior chamber 37. The gear unit components 71 are planetary gear components, and the components 71 include a sun gear 72, a ring gear 73, planet gears 74 and a planet carrier 75. The prime mover 13 is drivingly connected to the planet carrier 75. The primary pump motor unit 42 is drivingly connected to the sun gear 72. The secondary pump motor unit 43 is drivingly connected to the ring gear 73 and to the drive wheels 15.

More specifically, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7, the planet carrier 75 is drivingly connected to transfer shaft 62, preferably by a spline connection, so that transfer shaft 62 and input shaft 41 and engine drive shaft 14 and prime mover 13 are drivingly connected and rotate together. Alternatively, one or more of the several spline connections illustrated herein may be replaced with any other suitable attachment device such as, for example, a key and slot arrangement or by a single piece construction. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 8, primary pump motor unit drive shaft 44 extends into planetary gear unit interior chamber 37 and carries a gear 76 through a spline connection. Gear 76 drives gear 77, which drives sun gear 72 through a spline connection. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 9, secondary pump motor unit drive shaft 45 is drivingly connected to ring gear 73 and to output shaft 63 and differential drive shaft 17 and differential 16 and drive wheels 15, so that these components rotate together. Specifically, secondary pump motor unit drive shaft 45 extends into planetary gear unit interior chamber 37 and carries a gear 78 through a spline connection, and gear 78 meshes with gear 79 that is connected to ring gear 73 and to output shaft 63.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 8, the primary pump motor shaft 44 extends longitudinally from the rotating axial piston group 42 a, 42 b of its associated primary pump motor unit 42 in interior chamber 36 of hydraulic unit 23, through the connecting plate 25, and into the interior chamber 37 of planetary gear unit 24. The left end of the primary pump motor unit shaft 44 is supported by a tapered roller bearing 80 in the connecting plate 25 to accommodate radial and axial loads on the shaft 44, and the right end of the shaft 44 is supported by a roller bearing 81 in housing 29 of planetary gear unit 24. The gear 76 that is carried by the primary pump motor unit shaft 44 is disposed intermediate the bearings 80 and 81 and adjacent the bearing 81. Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 9, the secondary pump motor shaft 45 extends longitudinally from the rotating axial piston group 43 a, 43 b of its associated secondary pump motor unit 43 in interior chamber 36 of hydraulic unit 23, through the connecting plate 25, and into the interior chamber 37 of planetary gear unit 24. The left end of the secondary pump motor unit shaft 45 is supported by a tapered roller bearing 82 in the connecting plate 25 to accommodate radial and axial loads, and the right end of the shaft 45 is supported by a roller bearing 83 in a blind bore 83 a in housing 29 of planetary gear unit 24. The gear 78 that is carried by the secondary pump motor unit shaft 45 is disposed intermediate the bearings 82 and 83 and adjacent the bearing 83. This arrangement integrates the pump motor units 42 and 43 and their associated shafts 44 and 45 into the hydraulic unit 23 and the connecting plate 25 and the planetary gear unit 24 to provide an integral unit. By supporting the ends of the shafts 44 and 45 in this manner in bearings in the connecting plate 25 and planetary gear unit housing 29 and with the associated gears 76 and 78, respectively, disposed on the shafts 44 and 45 intermediate their support bearings, smaller diameter pump motor unit shaft diameters and shorter axial length pump motor unit shafts are achieved to reduce the size and weight of the transmission 11.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-2 and 7-9 to further describe the connecting plate 25, the connecting plate 25 is of high strength cast iron and the hydraulic housing 26 and planetary gear unit housing 29 are of lower strength and lower weight aluminum casting. The material for the connecting plate 25 and housings 26 and 29 may alternatively be of other suitable materials. The connecting plate 25 provides a major structural element of the transmission 11, and a connecting assembly 84 includes the connecting plate 25 and the hydraulic components and gear set components that are assembled to and carried by the connecting plate 25. The connecting plate 25 has a hydraulic unit side that includes a hydraulic unit wall 25 a that provides a wall of hydraulic unit sealed chamber 36 adjacent the output end 28 of the hydraulic unit 23. The connecting plate 25 also has a planetary gear unit side that includes a planetary gear unit wall 25 b that provides a wall of planetary gear unit sealed chamber 37 adjacent the input end 30 of planetary gear unit 24. A mechanical drive opening 85 (FIG. 7) extends longitudinally through the connecting plate 25 from the hydraulic side 25 a to the gear set side 25 b, and a bearing 86 and seal 86 a are disposed in the opening 85. The input mechanical drive shaft 41 (including its transfer shaft 62) extends longitudinally into the opening 85 and is supported by the bearing 86 a and sealed by the seal 86 b. A primary hydraulic drive opening 87 (FIG. 8) extends longitudinally through the connecting plate 25 from the hydraulic side 25 a to the gear set side 25 b. The primary opening 87 is in laterally offset relation to the opening 85 and input shaft 41, and the primary pump motor unit shaft bearing 80 and associated seal 80 a are disposed in the opening 87. The primary pump motor unit 42 is secured to the connecting plate 25 on its hydraulic side 25 a and is longitudinally aligned with the opening 87. The primary pump motor unit drive shaft 44 extends longitudinally through the opening 87 and is supported by the bearing 80 and sealed by the associated seal 80 a. A secondary hydraulic drive opening 88 (FIG. 9) extends longitudinally through the connecting plate 25 from the hydraulic side 25 a to the gear set side 25 b. The secondary opening 88 is also in laterally offset relation to the opening 84 and input shaft 41, and the secondary pump motor unit shaft bearing 82 and associated seal 82 a are disposed in the opening 88. The secondary pump motor unit 43 is secured to the connecting plate 25 on its hydraulic side 25 a and is longitudinally aligned with the opening 88. The secondary pump motor unit drive shaft 45 extends longitudinally through the opening 88 and is supported by the bearing 82 and sealed by seal 82 a. The connecting assembly 84 further includes the planetary gear set 71, which is mounted on the gear set side 25 b of the connecting plate 25. This configuration provides an input drive shaft 41, 62 that extends longitudinally from end to end through the sealed chamber 36 of hydraulic unit 23 and through the connecting plate 25, and primary and secondary pump motor units 42 and 43 that are each disposed in the sealed chamber 36 and are laterally offset from the drive shaft 41, 62 and circumferentially and longitudinally spaced from one another.

The connecting plate 25 of the connecting assembly 84 provides a hydraulic manifold and further includes fluid flow passages that include high pressure fluid flow passages 89 a and 89 b and pilot signal passages 90. The high pressure fluid outlet side of each hydraulic pump motor unit 42 and 43 includes a high pressure fluid outlet or flow tube 91 (FIGS. 1 and 8), 92 (FIGS. 1 and 9), respectively, and the flow tubes 91 and 92 are further described in the above referenced publication. The passages 89 a and 89 b in the connecting plate 25 connect each of the isolation valves 54, 55 with an associated one of the pump motor units, so that the flow tubes 91 and 92 are each connected in fluid communication to the isolation valves 54 and 55. The valves 52, 53, 54 and 55 are secured to and mounted on the connecting plate 25, and the pilot fluid passages 90 are in fluid communication with these valves.

In this manner, the connecting plate 25 is a component of a connecting assembly 84 and provides a mounting platform for the pump motor units 42 and 43 and for the valves 52, 53, 54, and 55; provides support and bearings for the pump motor unit shafts 44 and 45; provides bearings for the transfer shaft 62 and support for the transfer shaft 62 and input shaft 41; provides a mounting platform for the planetary gear components 71; provides a wall for the hydraulic unit internal chamber 36 and for the planetary gear unit internal chamber 37; combines the hydraulic unit 23 and the planetary gear unit 24 into an integral unit; and provides a high pressure hydraulic manifold for the fluid connections between and among the high pressure accumulator 46, valves 52, 53, 54, and 55, setting pistons 48, 49, 50 and 51, and pump motor units 42 and 43 and their associated rotating piston groups and high pressure flow tubes 91, 92. The illustrated components in the hydraulic unit 23, such as for example the pump motor units 42 and 43, may be replaced with different components and used with the gear unit 24 or with a different gear unit. Similarly, the illustrated components in the gear unit 24, such as for example the planetary gear components 71 and drive gears, may be replaced with different components and used with the hydraulic unit 23 or with a different hydraulic unit. This enables the transmission 11 to be used in a wide variety of vehicles and applications.

As best illustrated in FIG. 3, the exterior surfaces 32 and 33 of housings 26 and 29 provides several connections used for the transmission 11. For example, exterior surfaces 32 and 33 provide liquid filter and cooler supply and return ports 32 a and 32 b, liquid sensor temperature port 32 c, auxiliary low pressure return port 32 d, park pawl position sensor connection 32 e, secondary pump motor unit speed sensor connection 32 f, primary pump motor unit speed sensor connection 32 g, primary and secondary pump motor unit displacement sensor 32 h and 32 i, and hydraulic unit low pressure sensor 32 j.

Once the transmission 11 is assembled in the configuration illustrated in the drawings and described above, the transmission 11 is installed in the vehicle 10 in the lateral space between the frame rails 18 and in the longitudinal space between the prime mover drive shaft 14 and the differential drive shaft 17 (FIG. 1). The prime mover draft shaft 14 is connected through the torsional vibration dampening coupling 14 a to the input shaft 41 of the transmission 11. The differential drive shaft 17 is connected to the output drive shaft 63 of the transmission 11 through the couplings 64 a and 64 b and shaft 64 c. The appropriate electrical connections are made between the control systems of the vehicle 10 and the electrical components of the transmission 11, and the appropriate connections are made between the hydraulic components of the vehicle 10 (including the accumulators 46 and 47) and the transmission 11. In this installed configuration, the prime mover drive shaft 14, hydraulic unit prime mover input shaft 41, input opening 41 a, transfer shaft 62, planetary gear unit output drive shaft 63, output drive shaft opening 63 a, and differential drive shaft 17 are in axially aligned or coaxial relationship. All of the components of the hydraulic unit 23 including the pump motor units 42 and 43, and all of the components of the connecting plate 25 including the hydraulic manifold high pressure port 56 and passages 89 and 90 and control valves 52-55, and all of the components of the planetary gear unit 24 including the planetary gear components 71 and drive gears 76, 78 and 79, are disposed laterally between the frame rails 18 and longitudinally between the drive shafts 14 and 17. In this manner, the hydromechanical powersplit transmission 11 may be installed in the vehicle 10 in place of a conventional manual or automatic or variable transmission without substantial alteration of this space or the components of the vehicle 10 that define this space.

Turning now the operation of the transmission 11, the transmission 11 operates in various modes under a wide variety of conditions. For example, the transmission 11 operates in various modes in response to vehicle operator accelerator pedal input to transmit power from the prime mover 13 and/or from stored energy in the high pressure accumulator 46 to the differential drive shaft 17 to propel the vehicle 10. Further, the transmission 11 operates in various modes in response to vehicle operator brake pedal input to capture energy from the vehicle 10 during braking of the vehicle 10 and to transmit the captured energy to the high pressure accumulator storage device 46 for later use. Still further, the transmission 11 operates in response to vehicle operator input to start the prime mover 13 using stored energy in the accumulator storage device 46 when the vehicle 10 is stationary.

To select among a virtually infinite array of the above described operating modes of the transmission 11, the displacement and pump or motor operating mode of pump motor units 42 and 43 may be changed and the isolation valves 54 and 55 may be opened or closed. For example, when the secondary unit 43 is to be used in a pumping mode during braking to charge the accumulator 46, an input provided to the pilot valve 55 a may allow the isolation valve 55 to close. In this mode of operation, the isolation valve 55 for the secondary pump motor unit 43 may act as a check valve, so that the isolation valve 55 opens when pressure in the outlet tube 92 exceeds the pressure in the high pressure accumulator 46 to allow pressure from unit 43 to charge accumulator 46. The isolation valve 54 for the primary pump motor unit 42 may be generally opened when the vehicle 10 is moving, except closed when the secondary unit 43 is pumping during braking to prevent supply of fluid from the secondary unit 43 to the primary unit 42.

When the vehicle 10 is stationary, the isolation valve 54 for the primary unit 42 may be closed, to prevent unintended flow to the secondary unit 43 and unintended movement of the vehicle 10. The transmission 11 may also be used to start the engine 13, to eliminate the need for a conventional starter. For this mode, hydraulic fluid from accumulator 46 is supplied to primary pump motor unit 42 and isolated from secondary pump motor unit 43, so that unit 43 and its drive shaft 44 rotate to rotate gears 76, 77, 72 and 74 to rotate planet carrier 75 and transfer shaft 62 and input shaft 41 and drive shaft 14 to rotate and start prime mover engine 13 (FIG. 1).

Further, the proportional control valves 52 and 53 adjust the displacement of the units 42 and 43 during both pumping and motoring modes. For example, when movement of vehicle 10 is initially started from a stopped position, fluid is supplied from accumulator 46 to secondary unit 43 and displacement of unit 43 is gradually increased to accelerate vehicle 10. As speed of the vehicle 10 increases and displacement of unit 43 increases, fluid pressure from accumulator 46 decreases and less stored energy is available to unit 43 to continue to drive vehicle 10. As the speed of the vehicle further increases, more power is transmitted mechanically directly from the engine 13 to driveshaft 17 through the planetary gearset 71, while less power is transmitted by the hydraulic pump motor units. By reducing the hydraulic power transmitted at higher vehicle speeds, the overall transmission efficiency is increased. Additionally, the displacements of pump motors 42 and 43 are steplessly adjusted to achieve a desired output shaft speed for a given input prime mover input shaft speed. The adjusting of displacement provides for an infinitely variable or stepless transmission ratio, which allows the prime mover 13 to be operated at its most efficient operating speed regardless of output shaft speed. Additionally, since there is no gear shifting, there is no interruption in power. Under this condition, displacement of units 42 and 43 may be set to zero, to minimize any drag or inefficiency caused by units 42 and 43. When vehicle 10 is to brake, secondary unit 43 is operated in a pumping mode and displacement of unit 43 is increased to pump more fluid into accumulator 46 and cause further braking resistance to the drive wheels 15 until the desired slower speed or stopped condition for the vehicle 10 is achieved. During operation of the transmission 11, the sealed hydraulic unit chamber 36 is maintained at a positive pressure of at least about 2 bar and preferably in the range of about 2 bar to about 6 bar, to prevent cavitation in the pump motor units 42 and/or 43 during pumping, while the sealed gear unit chamber 37 is maintained at about atmospheric pressure. Because the pump motor units 42 and 43 are disposed in chamber 36 which is the low pressure reservoir, separate low pressure conduits and connections between the low pressure reservoir and the pump motor units 42 and 43 are not required.

In this manner, the transmission 11 provides a hydromechanical powersplit transmission that captures and stores energy as high pressure fluid in accumulator 46 during vehicle braking and that uses that stored energy to propel the vehicle 10 or to start engine 13. Further, when the vehicle 10 is to be propelled when stored energy in accumulator 46 is depleted, a direct variable speed mechanical connection is provided from engine 14, through hydraulic unit 23 but without pumping or motoring displacement of the units 42 and 43, through the planetary gear set 71 and to the drive wheels 15.

Gear Unit Double Sump

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 7-9, the planetary gear unit housing 29 includes a front gear unit housing 29 a and a rear gear unit housing 29 b. The sealed interior chamber or sump 37 of the planetary gear unit 24 includes a front chamber or front sump 37 a and a rear chamber or rear sump 37 b. The primary hydraulic pump motor unit drive shaft 44 extends from the hydraulic side 25 a, through the connecting plate 25, to the front chamber 37 a, where its associated gear 76 is drivingly connected to the sun gear 72 through gear 77 (FIGS. 1 and 8). The planetary gear components 71, including sun gear 72, ring gear 73, planet gears 74 and planet carrier 75 and the gear 76 provide a first gear set all disposed within front chamber or sump 37 a. The mechanical or prime mover input shaft 41 with its transfer shaft 62 extends from the hydraulic side 25 a, through the connecting plate 25, to the front sump 37 a, where the transfer shaft is drivingly connected to the planet carrier 75 (FIGS. 1 and 7). The secondary hydraulic pump motor unit drive shaft 45 extends from the hydraulic side 25 a, through the connecting plate 25, through the front sump 37 a, to the rear sump 37 b. In the rear sump 37 b, the gear 78 is secured on the secondary pump motor unit drive shaft 45 and is drivingly connected to gear 79 (FIGS. 1 and 9). Gear 79 in turn is connected to output drive shaft 63 in rear chamber 37 b and to ring gear 73. Gears 78 and 79 provide a second gear set disposed in the rear sump 37 b.

Gear unit front housing 29 a includes a longitudinally extending housing portion or wall 93 and a laterally extending generally planar housing portion or wall 94. Housing portion 94 provides a wall that separates sumps 37 a and 37 b and provides a common or shared wall for each sump 37 a and 37 b. An output drive shaft opening 95 extends longitudinally through housing portion or wall 94, and a bearing 96 in opening 95 supports output drive shaft 63. Gear unit rear housing 29 b includes a longitudinally extending housing portion or wall 97 and a laterally extending generally planar housing portion or wall 98. The output drive shaft opening 63 a extends longitudinally through housing portion or wall 98, and a bearing 100 in opening 63 a supports output drive shaft 63.

When the motor vehicle 10 is not moving, the output shaft 63 and gears 79 and 78 and secondary pump motor unit drive shaft 45 are in a stationary condition and are not rotating. In this condition, the fluid level in the chambers or sumps 37 a and 37 b is approximately at a level indicated by dotted line 101 a in FIGS. 7-9, which is above secondary pump motor unit gear 78 and below planetary gear components 71. The fluid in planetary gear housing 29 within sumps 37 a and 37 b is a suitable gear lubricating oil. Because the interior chamber or sump 37 (including 37 a and 37 b) of planetary gear unit 24 is sealed from the interior chamber or sump 36 of hydraulic unit 23, the fluid in sump 37 of planetary gear housing 29 can be a different fluid than in sump 36 of hydraulic unit housing 26 and can be at a different fluid pressure level. Further, as discussed in greater detail below, while the fluid level within the hydraulic unit housing 26 is substantially at the top of hydraulic unit sump 36 at level 101 b (FIG. 8) to permit sump 36 to provide a hydraulic fluid reservoir and to permit exchange and flow of hydraulic fluid from a motoring one of pump motor units 42, 43 to a pumping one of the units, the fluid level within planetary gear unit sump 37 is at a different and lower level to avoid heat build-up that would occur if the fluid levels were the same and the planetary gear components 71 and gears in the planetary gear unit housing 37 were submerged in lubricating fluid.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the front housing 29 a of the gear unit 24 also includes a secondary pump motor shaft opening 108, and the secondary pump motor shaft 45 extends through opening 108. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the housing 29 a also includes a low pressure return line opening 109, and the housing 29 b includes a low pressure return line opening 110. The opening 110 is used to optionally connect a low pressure accumulator to chamber 36 and is not used in the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings. A low pressure return tube 111 extends through and is sealed within openings 109 and 110, to connect low pressure hydraulic reservoir or sump 36 through sump 37 a and 37 b to opening 110.

Accordingly, the walls 93 and 94 of the front or first housing 29 a define the front or first sump 37 a. The rear or second housing 29 b is connected to the first housing 29 a and includes walls 97 and 98 that cooperate with the common wall 94 of the first housing 29 a to define the rear or second sump 37 b. A first set of rotatable gears 71 is disposed in the first sump 37 a and has a stationary condition and a rotating condition. A second set of rotatable gears 78, 79 is disposed in the second sump 37 b and has a stationary condition and a rotating condition. An input drive shaft 62 extends longitudinally into the first sump 37 a and is rotatably connected to the first set of rotatable gears. An output drive shaft 63 extends longitudinally out of the second sump 37 b and is rotatably connected to the second set of gears. The longitudinal axes 22 of the input and output drive shafts are substantially coaxial. A first hydraulic pump motor unit drive shaft 44 extends into the first sump 37 a and is driving connected with the first set of rotatable gears. A second hydraulic pump motor unit drive shaft 45 extends longitudinally from end to end through the first sump 37 a and into the second sump 37 b and is drivingly connected with the second set of rotatable gears. The first and second hydraulic pump motor unit drive shafts are supported by bearings in walls 25, 94 and 98.

Spline Connections

The gears and shafts described above are preferably secured together using a spline connection 160 illustrated in FIGS. 10-14. The spline connection 160 is illustrated in FIGS. 10-14 as applied to the connection between the primary pump motor unit drive shaft 44 and the primary pump motor unit drive gear 76. However, the same spline connection 160 is also used between the secondary pump motor unit drive shaft 45 and its associated drive gear 78 and between other shaft and gear connections illustrated in the drawings. Further, the spline connection 160 may be used in other applications to drivingly connect two components such as a shaft and a member arranged on the shaft.

The spline connection 160 includes an internal spline connector 161 on the gear 76 and a mating external spline connector 162 on the shaft 44. As best shown in FIG. 11, the primary gear 76 includes external gear teeth 163 and a longitudinally extending bore 164. The bore 164 provides an internal spline connector, and the internal spline connector 164 extends longitudinally from end to end through the gear 76 for a longitudinal extent 165. The internal spline connector 164 includes a spline portion 166 having a longitudinal extent 167. The longitudinal extent 167 of the spline portion 166 is at least about 30% of the longitudinal extent 165 of the internal spline connector 164 and is preferably between about 50% and about 80 percent of the longitudinal extent 165 of the internal spline connector 164. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11, the longitudinal extent 167 of the spline portion 166 is about 60% of the longitudinal extent 165 of the internal spline connector 167. The internal spline connector 164 also includes a pilot and centering portion 168 having a substantially cylindrical generally smooth surface substantially adjacent the spline portion 166. The pilot and centering portion 168 has a longitudinal extent 169. The longitudinal extent 169 of the pilot and centering portion 168 is at least about 10% of the longitudinal extent 165 of the internal spline connector 164 and is preferably between about 20% and about 60% of the longitudinal extent 165 of the internal spline connector 164. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11, the longitudinal extent 169 of the pilot and centering portion 168 is about 40% of the longitudinal extent of the 165 of the internal spline connector 164. The pilot and centering portion 168 has an internal diameter 170 that is substantially greater than the internal diameter 171 of the crests of the teeth of the splines of the spline portion 166. The solid lines indicated in FIG. 35 for the spline portion 166 illustrate the crests of the splines, and the dotted lines indicated in FIG. 35 for the spline portion 166 illustrate the roots of the splines.

As best shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, the external spline connector 162 of the shaft 44 is an external surface 172 of the shaft 44 that is at least partially radially aligned with the internal spline connector portion 161 of the gear 76 when the gear 76 is partially or fully assembled on the shaft 44. The external spline connector 162 has a longitudinal extent 173, and the external spline connector 162 includes a spline portion 174 and a substantially smooth generally cylindrical centering portion 175 longitudinally substantially adjacent the spline portion 174. The spline portion 174 has a longitudinal extent 176 that is greater than about 40% of the longitudinal extent 173 and is preferably between about 60% and about 100% of the longitudinal extent 173. In the preferred embodiment, the longitudinal extent 176 is about 80% of the longitudinal extent 173. The centering portion 175 has a longitudinal extent 177 that is less than about 50% of the longitudinal extent 173 and is preferably between about 30% and 0% of the longitudinal extent 173. In the preferred embodiment, the longitudinal extent 177 is about 20% of the longitudinal extent 173. The solid lines indicated in FIG. 36 for the spline portion 174 indicate the crests of the splines, and the dotted lines indicated in FIG. 36 for the spline portion 174 indicate the roots of the splines. Only the roots of the splines of the spline portion 174 are illustrated in FIGS. 34, 34 a and 34 b, to avoid overlapping lines on those Figures among the spline portion 174 and the mating spline portion 166. As illustrated in FIGS. 34 a and 34 b and further described below, the generally smooth portion 168 is longitudinally substantially adjacent its spline portion 168 on one side of the spline portion 168, while the generally smooth portion 175 is substantially adjacent its spline portion 174 on the opposite side of the spline portion 174.

FIG. 13 illustrates the gear 76 and shaft 44, and the internal and external spline connectors 161 and 162, in a disassembled configuration. To assemble the gear 76 onto the shaft 44, the smooth pilot and centering portion 168 of the internal spline connector 161 is moved longitudinally onto and over the spline portion 174 of the external spline connector 162 of the shaft 44, to a first partially assembled position or configuration illustrated in FIG. 10 a. During this movement, the centering portion 168 of the internal spline connector 161 lightly engages and centers and guides the shaft 44 and its external spline connector 162 to longitudinally and circumferentially align the spline portions 166 and 174. The pilot and centering portion 168 aligns the longitudinal axis of the gear 76 relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 44 so that these axes are substantially coaxial. The gear 76 can be rotated relative to the shaft 44 while the smooth pilot and centering portion 168 is in radial alignment with the spline portion 174 as illustrated in FIG. 10 a, to circumferentially align splines of the internal spline portion 166 with the splines of the external spline portion 174. The smooth pilot and centering portion 168 has a diameter only slightly larger than the diameter of the crests of the spline portion 174, for example with a minimal clearance fit between the portions 168 and 174, to assist in aligning the portions 168 and 174 without binding during assembly.

Continued movement of the gear 76 onto the shaft 44 to a second partially assembled position or configuration illustrated in FIG. 10 b causes the spline portion 166 of the internal spline connector 161 of the gear 76 to move longitudinally into meshing engagement with the spline portion 174 of the external spline connector 162 of the shaft 44. In this position, the spline portions 166 and 174 are radially aligned. Again, the smooth pilot and centering portion 168 slides along the outside or crests of the spline portion 174 to continue to help maintain alignment during movement to this position. Continued movement of the gear 76 onto the shaft 44 to the fully assembled position illustrated in FIG. 34 causes the smooth pilot and centering portion 164 of the internal spline connector 161 of the gear 76 to move into radial alignment with the smooth centering portion 175 of the external spline connector 162 of the shaft 44, with the smooth portions 164 and 175 engaging with a suitable close fit, such as for example a transition fit or an interference fit, to continue to maintain alignment and to reduce relative movement between the spline connectors 161 and 162. Suitable stops (not shown) may be provided to lock the gear 76 against longitudinal movement relative to the shaft 44 after assembly to the position illustrated in FIG. 10, although such stops may not be required in the assembly illustrated in the drawings.

In this manner, the spline connection 161 includes an internal spline connector 161 and an external spline connector 162. At least one of the spline connectors 161 or 162, and preferably both, include a spline portion and a smooth centering portion. During assembly, the smooth centering portion of one of the spline connectors 161 or 162 cooperates with the spline portion of the other spline connector to align the connectors 161 and 162 while permitting rotating movement between the spline connectors 161 and 162. In the fully assembled configuration, the smooth centering portion of the one spline connector moves into registry with the smooth centering portion of the other spline connector to continue to maintain alignment and reduce relative movement between the spline connectors.

CONCLUSION

The principles, embodiments and operation of the present invention are described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings but are not to be construed as being limited to the particular illustrative forms disclosed. It will thus become apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications of the principles, embodiments and operation herein can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A spline connection (160) comprising an internal spline connector (161) and an external spline connector (162), each of the spline connectors having a spline portion (166, 174), at least one of the spline connectors having a substantially smooth centering portion (168) longitudinally substantially adjacent its spline portion, the spline connectors having a first partially assembled configuration in which the spline portion (174) of one of the spline connectors is radially aligned with and engages with sliding contact the smooth centering portion (168) of the other spline connector, the spline connectors having a second partially assembled configuration in which the spline portions of each of the spline connectors are at least partially radially aligned with one another.
 2. A spline connection as set forth in claim 1, wherein the spline connectors have a fully assembled configuration in which the entire longitudinal extent of the spline portion of the one of the spline connectors is radially aligned with at least a portion of the longitudinal extent of the spline portion of the other spline connector.
 3. A spline connection as set forth in any of preceding claims 1-2, wherein each of the spline connectors includes a substantially smooth generally cylindrical centering portion substantially adjacent its spline portion.
 4. A spline connection as set forth in claim 3, wherein the centering portion of the internal spline connector is on one side of its spline portion when the spline connectors are in the first and second partially assembled positions, and the centering portion of the external spline connector is on the same side of its spline portion when the spline connectors are in the first and second partially assembled positions.
 5. A spline connection as set forth in any of preceding claims 3-4, wherein the centering portions are only partially radially aligned and the spline portions are only partially radially aligned when the spline connection is in its second partially assembled configuration.
 6. A spline connection as set forth in any of preceding claims 1-5, wherein each of the spline portions is generally cylindrical.
 7. A spline connection as set forth in any of preceding claims 1-6, wherein the one spline connector is the internal spline connector.
 8. A spline connection as set forth in claim 7, wherein the substantially smooth centering portion of the internal spline connector guides the spline portion of the external spline connector into circumferential and longitudinal alignment with the spline portion of the internal spline connection as the spline connectors are displaced from a disassembled configuration to the first partially assembled configuration.
 9. A spline connection as set forth in any of preceding claims 7-8, wherein the internal spline connector has a longitudinal extent, and the spline portion of the internal spline connector has a longitudinal extent of at least about 30% of the longitudinal extent of the internal spline connector.
 10. A spline connection as set forth in claim 9, wherein the spline portion of the internal spline connector has a longitudinal extent of between about 50% and 80% of the longitudinal extent of the internal spline connector.
 11. A spline connection as set forth in any of preceding claims 7-10, wherein the centering portion of the internal spline connector has a longitudinal extent, and the longitudinal extent of the centering portion of the internal spline connector is at least about 10% of the longitudinal extent of the internal spline connector.
 12. A spline connection as set forth in claim 11, wherein the centering portion of the internal spline connector has a longitudinal extent of between about 20% and 60% of the longitudinal extent of the internal spline connector.
 13. A spline connector as set forth in any of preceding claims 7-12, wherein the other spline connector is an external spline connector having a spline portion and a generally smooth substantially cylindrical portion adjacent its spline portion.
 14. A spline connection as set forth in any of preceding claims 1-13, wherein the internal spline connector is on a bore (164) in a gear (76), the external spline connector is on a shaft (44), and the gear and the shaft are in a sump (37) in a hydromechanical transmission (11). 